Since losing their senior status in 2000, Rosemount have contested two intermediate finals and two semi-finals. It has been a frustrating few years for the black and ambers but centre forward Martin Loddick remains hopeful that a return to the top flight isn't far away. When Rosemount surrendered their senior status after 72 unbroken years in 2000, it was widely predicted that their stay in the intermediate championship would be a brief one. But four years on, the black and ambers are still an intermediate club, desperately craving a return to the top flight. The breakthrough was almost achieved in 2001 and 2003 when they lost intermediate finals to St. Malachy's and Ballymore respectively. In 2002, they were beaten by eventual champions Tubberclair in the semi-final and last year it was a similar story when they lost to a St. Mary's team who also went on to lift the Peter Geraghty Cup. "It has been unbelievably frustrating," says Martin Loddick, who has been a stalwart of Rosemount teams over the past decade or so. "When we first came down, we were confident of going straight back up but St. Malachy's beat us in the final. We have been there or thereabouts ever since but the door back to senior just won't open for us. While the spirit will always be there, it's getting harder and harder every year. It feels like we are stuck in a bit of a rut and that's not a good way to be." Loddick, who started his career in defence but is now more at home on the '40', believes Rosemount have lost the aura of invincibility that was once associated with the club. "Teams don't fear us like they used to," he claims. "A lot of intermediate teams would have been beaten before they ever played us when we first came down. But that's not the case anymore. They have seen us lose finals and semi-finals over the past few years and know that we can be beaten. There has been a huge levelling off in the intermediate championship and literally any team can win it now." Under the management of former Athlone and Moate player Mossy Collins, Rosemount made a disappointing start to last year's championship when they suffered a 0-6 to 0-10 defeat to an ever-improving Bunbrosna team. After a poor first half, the south county outfit led by 0-3 to 0-2 and when they stretched their advantage to 0-5 to 0-2 early in the second half, they looked set for victory. But Bun' had other ideas and after drawing level, they outscored Rosemount by 0-5 to 0-1 in the final quarter to run out convincing winners. The black and ambers put that disappointment behind them when they defeated Milltownpass by 1-8 to 0-9 at Shandonagh. A goal from All-Star John Keane in the 10th minute set Rosemount up for the win, although they had to withstand a strong second half fightback by Milltownpass which saw them draw level with five minutes remaining. However, Rosemount responded with two late points to secure their first win. Against Mullingar Shamrocks in their next outing, Rosemount got off to a great start with Cathal Keane firing them to a 0-5 to 0-0 lead after 15 minutes. But with Tom Ormsby taking a grip at midfield, Shamrocks fought back to trail by three points, 0-4 to 0-7, at the interval. Rosemount found their rhythm again after the break to surge into a 0-10 to 0-4 lead. Shamrocks tried hard to find a way back but they never looked like making up the deficit as Rosemount coasted to a 0-12 to 0-6 victory. Rosemount made it three wins on the bounce when they saw off the challenge of Milltown at Castledaly. The foundations for their victory were laid in the first half when they built up a commanding 1-7 to 0-2 lead. Milltown came back strongly when assisted by the win in the second half but despite only managing one further point, Rosemount emerged as 1-8 to 0-7 winners. The black and ambers' hopes of reaching the knock-out stages suffered a setback in late September when they were decisively beaten by St. Mary's. The 'Bridge were four points to the good after 11 minutes but with Danny Fielding in fine form from placed balls, Rosemount had reduced the deficit to the minimum at half-time, 0-5 to 0-6. It remained close in the early stages of the second half but then St. Mary's found an extra gear and goals from Ian Cunningham and Alan Gavin saw them run out winners on a 2-9 to 0-8 scoreline. The pressure was now on Mossy Collins' charges to win their remaining group match against Ballinagore and they didn't disappoint with three first half goals helping them to a 3-12 to 2-9 victory. That set the scene for a quarter-final joust with Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall at St. Loman's on October 17. After a keenly-contested first half, Castletown-Finea led by 0-5 to 0-4 and Rosemount were on the back-foot following the resumption when an Alan Brady goal gave the northerners a 1-6 to 0-5 lead after the same player had a penalty brilliantly saved by Paddy McCormack. Despite having Brady dismissed for a challenge on David Keane, Castletown-Finea still led by four points with 10 minutes to go and Rosemount looked to be on their way out. However, a goal by substitute Danny Fielding levelled the game and after Castletown-Finea again took the lead, late points from Stephen Darcy and Martin Loddick (two) saw Rosemount prevail by 1-10 to 1-8. In the semi-final, Rosemount renewed acquaintances with St. Mary's at Cusack Park. Forced to line out without their chief score-getter Cathal Keane who suffered a hamstring injury in the win over Castletown-Finea, Rosemount struggled badly in the first half and found themselves 0-3 to 0-8 in arrears at the interval. But the pattern of the game changed completely after the restart as Rosemount scored five unanswered points per Donal Boland, Danny Fielding (two), John Keane and David Mullen to level proceedings. However, St. Mary's had the final say when Ian Cunningham landed their only point of the half with time almost up to give them a 0-9 to 0-8 victory. "We were bitterly disappointed to lose the semi-final, especially after playing so well in the second half," recalls Loddick, whose brother Michael is also a key member of the Rosemount team. "We thought we had them when we got back level, but we weren't able to get our noses in front and they were able to reply with a point which proved the difference in the end. Cathal Keane was a huge loss to us while Donal Boland not being able to start because of a shoulder injury was another blow to our chances." There was also disappointment for Rosemount in the All-County League when they were relegated from Division 1 for the first time. "The semi-final defeat to St. Mary's also cost us our Division 1 status as it had been doubled up as a league match," Martin explains. "We only managed one win in the whole campaign against Mullingar Shamrocks but I'm convinced things would have turned out differently if John Keane had been available to us more often. He was only allowed to play one or two league matches because of his involvement with the county team." Loddick, who represented Westmeath at minor and under 21 level, believes Rosemount are now paying the price for having neglected their underage section during the 1990s. "Because we were competing at a high level and regularly getting to county finals, the underage suffered a bit. There is great work being done now, but really it should have been done sooner. Having said that, Rosemount is a rural club and has only a small pool of players to pick from. We can't compete with the town teams when it comes to numbers." Last year, Rosemount players figured prominently on the St. Brigid's team which lost the under 16 'premier' final to Inny Gaels and Loddick expects new manager Declan O'Flaherty to give more of the young players their chance in the coming season. "I'm very encouraged by the quality of the young players coming through. The likes of Danny Fox, Stephen Darcy and Danny Fielding are excellent players who should have big futures ahead of them. "Declan O'Flaherty, who is involved with the Longford under 21s, has taken over as manager from Mossy Collins and he has set his sights on winning the intermediate championship this year. We've been drawn in a very tough group but if can come through it, I'd expect us to be in the shake-up for outright success. We won't be happy until we're a senior club again," he concludes. The Rosemount team which contested the IFC semi-final was: Paddy McCormack; David Keane, David Foxe, Raymond Keenan; Ronald Mullen, John Keane, Paddy Wade; Stephen Darcy, Declan Keane; Michael Loddick, Martin Loddick, Tom King; John Healy, Des Collins, Danny Fielding. Tweet

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